Cabinet DECISIONS

Animal Identification and Traceability System

Cabinet approval was granted to establish a Central Livestock Farm Data Base. The objective of this is to increase, safeguard and upgrade daily animal population in Sri Lanka with the final target of doubling the milk production within the next five years.

The total cost of the project is Rs 90 million to be spread over five years.

Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction

Cabinet approval was granted to hold the Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction in May to June 2011 in Sri Lanka.

Fifty foreign participants from member countries will take part.

Shops for pavement hawkers

It has been decided to launch a New Town Centre Development Project in Nugegoda, while enabling the pavement hawkers to continue their business without any inconveniencing the public.

A land belonging to the Kotte Municipal Council has been identified within the Nugegoda Township to construct 186 shops initially to be provided to the pavement hawkers.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 18 million. The shops' maintenance will be entrusted to the Kotte Municipal Council. It has been decided to award the construction contract to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau.

Regularizing Bus Services

Several proposals were approved to streamline bus services in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

This includes the issuance of passenger service permits to bus operators levying a fee stipulated by the SLTB and to provide opportunities for all those bus operators interested in providing these services.

It was decided to limit the number of buses that can be operated by a single operator. It was also decided that the relevant authority should ensure that buses are operated in these routes strictly to scheduled timetables.

Defence Services Colleges Systems

Branches of Defence Services College will be established at regional level with Education Ministry assistance.

Cabinet approval was granted to implement this scheme as a Special National Education Project under the Education Ministry and to direct the Legal Draftsman to draft legislation to establish a Defence Services College System.

Electricity for 33,000 households

Two hundred and twenty-five rural villages are to be provided electricity with the construction of 225 new substations.

This will provide electricity to 33,000 households in the province.

The project is being implemented under the financial assistance arranged by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).The total cost of the project is estimated to be US $59.365 million. The project contractor Mis. Eitel Networks of Sweden has agreed to arrange a financial facility of US $50.46 million being 85 percent of the project.

Cabinet approval was granted for the Ceylon Electricity Board to sign the commercial contract.

Import

Day old chicks and layer chicks and also chicken and eggs will be imported in November, December and April by the National Livestock Development Board and Lak Sathosa.

Loans are to be provided through State Banks for breeding farms and small-scale farmers.

This program will be reviewed monthly by the Ministries of Economic Development; Livestock and Rural Community Development; and Co-operatives and Internal Trade, under the supervision of the Finance and Planning Ministry.